Why Sir F. Burnand Resigned.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 2 June 1906, Page 43

Why Sir F. Burnand Resigned.

Sii Francis Burnand, in an interesting letter to the “Observer” (England); explains the eireiinistances under which his resignation of t.he editorship of “Punch” took place. “I had intended hut my intention was a secret from everybody save one confidant, entirely unconnected with journalism and literature,” he writes—- ’ to retire from the editorship of ‘Punch’ at the beginning of the next year. I was meditating on the question as to what time would l;e most eoiiv< nient for my friends, the proprietors to receive from me the first intimation of my purpose—a rather delicate and difficult matter after forty-four years’ service, including twenty-live years and a hall editorship—w.hen unexpectedly, the proprietors, who had evidently been struck by the same happy thought that had occurred to me, wrote me a most laudai >rily expressed and kindly toped letter, anticipating my design, of which they had no knowledge, by the space of one’year. 'lt was in effect, 'Don’t stand upon the order of your going, but go—as soon as you ean conveniently manage it.' “The ease seems to me to bear some resemblance to that of a guest in a country house who, without informing his host, has determined on leaving by a late train in the afternoon of next lav, and who is somewhat upset by his hospitable host genially telling him overnight that the carriage will be ready to take him and his luggage to the station at 8 a.m.. ’Breakfast 7.30 sharp, my boy!* “The guest demurs, but, finally, falls in with his host’s plan (amended by guest) of leaving at 9.30 instead of 8.0, and thereby breakfasting, ratio r more comfortably than he otherwise would have done, at 8.30. The guest does not ‘voluntarily’ select his own hour for leaving. but he does accept his host’s proposal modified by the amendment. “The mutual attachment that exists, and that has always existed, between my confreres and myself, would at any time have prevented me from severing myself from them willingly. So also, but, of course, in a slightly inferior degree, I ean honestly express my good feeling towards the proprietors, much as I fancy the imaginary guest in the foregoing fable would have palliated to himself and friends the unexpected conge given him by his genial and otherwise kindly disposed host.”